So this week…I had an audition for Les Miz at Marriott Lincolnshire, an audition to be the new voice of Yoplait yogurt, did a reading at Three Cat Media Thursday’s, had three operas to run….and the only thing I want to talk about is the insult I gave to the wonderful costume designer of Frau at Lyric.
Kevin is in town from London. So nice. So friendly. Really wonderful designer. He even brought with him an equally wonderful assistant. That is one of the best things about working at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, meeting these incredibly talented designers. And to be fair, most of the designers who have come in have been amazing.
Well…Kevin was standing amongst us all, as we were huddled over our areas sewing on sequins to little India tunics. (Ironically, the Gap was busted earlier that week for employing young boys to do the same job. But, that is neither here nor there.) He was talking about how next season he and his assistant would be back to design Lulu. The company was in talks about where and when this opera would be set. He was thrilled that it was to be set in the 30’s and how he loved that look. And I piped up, unwarranted, that I loved seeing 300 pound women in bias cut silk. I wasn’t trying to be mean about the women, but I felt I needed to lash out at a gay designer who had never bothered to look at who he was designing for and what their bodies would look good in. These opera singers, although it is changing, are not known for being svelte beanpoles. These are zaftig women, people. These are not tall, flat chested, no hipped pre-pubescent boys. Anyway, he seemed shocked and then laughed at my observation. Thank god. Who the hell am I to tell him how to design? Shortly after my outburst he left and the room stayed eerily quiet.
I often open up my mouth before I speak. It works in my shows. Not so much in real life though.
Till next time, be good to one another.
